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Relationships Expert - Answered on May 26, 2025

Love Guru has been answering relationship and romance related questions on Rediff.com for over 13 years. She won't mince words when telling you what the problem is and what you can do about it. If you want a fresh perspective from an unbiased, objective-thinking individual about your relationship woes, Love Guru could just be the person you need to need to hear from.... more
Asked by Anonymous - May 09, 2025
Relationship

Hello I have terrible stress due not having proper job and marriage getting delayed .what need to do on this situation

Ans: You will have worse stress if you enter into a marriage in haste! I know of enough people who settled for the first person who came along because all their other friends had settled down and they felt left behind — all ended in divorce! Focus on your career first, settle into it well and then think of wedding bells!

You may like to see similar questions and answers below

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1622 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Oct 06, 2020

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Relationship
Hi Anu, I am 42 yrs old male. I am a Public Health Professional and work in an International NGO on health issues based in Delhi. I have ageing parents (both suffering from cardiac illness, diabetes and hypertension) which are based in Mumbai, my immediate family (wife and two kids) stays with my parents as there is no one else to take care of them. My parents especially my father is adamant that he doesn’t want to leave his house and stay with me in Delhi. As a result my immediate family is also forced to stay in Mumbai taking care of my parents. My wife is very supportive, however as this situation is like this since last 4-5 years and we are staying in two different cities, it has now taking stall at emotionally and physically on both of us (me, my wife and my two kids). I am desperately searching for job in Mumbai, however in my sector there are not very good opportunities in Mumbai. I tried my hands in two there places for job, however to my misfortune things didnt work out. I am a mid-senior level professional and have reached this position after a lot of hard work, however the stress has started affecting my performance and overall reputation in the organization. Hence there is constant stress of performance, ability to deliver, overall situation has lowered my confidence level affecting my work further. Dissatisfied with my work, my supervisor has already started sidelining me. I am desperately started thinking of leaving the job, however financial condition doesn’t allow me to do that. With COVID-19 pandemic things has worsened, as I am stuck in Delhi even in lockdown, leaving my parents and my wife struggling in Mumbai amidst the lockdown. Even now cant visit them as stressed, whether i will carry risk of infection to my parents, wife and kids, Hence staying away, it’s been 8 months that have not met them. Not sure, how to handle this. One way I thought as looking out opportunities in Mumbai, even if at junior level, However i am trying for that, but not getting suitable opportunities. Not sure, how to handle the pressures from family (Parents don't want to shift, wife is not ready to stay away and has given time till March, there constant pressure of performance). Not sure, what to do.
Ans: Dear S, surely, this pandemic has put many at inconvenience in different ways for each of us across the planet.

What we can do is make the best of what is at this point in time. It indeed is hard to be away from family at a time like this.

I know parents in some families do find it hard adjusting to a new city at their age and having your wife care for them as logical as the decision was has begun to take a toll on the family as a whole.

It is an amazing feeling to come back home to a family after a hard day’s work where they wait with love, care and support.

Either a job in Mumbai or moving your family to Delhi are the options as it is evident that family and their love is important for you to have the security and stability.

Having said this, Lockdown 5.0 begins soon, I think fearlessly take a call, visit your family.

If you think you want to isolate yourself in the fear of COVID-10, do so…but more that all of this, do sit down as a family, COMMUNICATE, talk to your parents about how this is affecting you and obviously they care and love you enough to hear your side of the story.

And finally, do what needs to be done to make sure that your parents understand and are taken care of and your wife and children are with you as a family.

Happy decision making and be happy!

..Read more

Anu

Anu Krishna  |1622 Answers  |Ask -

Relationships Expert, Mind Coach - Answered on Mar 29, 2023

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Relationship
Maam sir good morn.I m K.S .i am.the sole bread earner of my.family .i m 52 and do.not have a job. I m not a spend thrift but due to lot of loans i have taken for education etc i m totally stressed up. I.get depressed and do not have the motivation to move ahead in life. I want to clear up all my dues and i fight day in and day out to find a job but to.no success. Finance are getting.lesser.. I m on the verge of breakdown. Plz help.
Ans: Dear KS,
First things first. A lot of decisions have gone wrong. It cannot be erased, but certainly you must find a way of recovering from it.
Yes, it is highly disheartening, but once you decide that you want to be in a better place, you have to take certain actions to reach that better place.
So, time to quit being upset and taking firm actions on what to do next to get out of this situation that you are in.
Seek the help of someone within your family or friends circle who is strong with their finances and managing their monies well. Of course, they must be someone you trust as well. Share everything with them (you need the help, so kindly be truthful and honest with them).
Let them put together a plan of action that manages your existing financial resources and inbound channels and match that with all the payments and debts.
Allow them to 'advise' you as you need this strong advice right now. Discuss what's possible and what's not and they will come up with something that is close to perfect.
Once, you start with the first small baby step. things start to look up. Even clearing a small debt will take a load off your chest. So, get into that action mode NOW. And yes, do promise yourself that this situation is teaching you a lesson on how to be financially prudent and that you will learn from it.

Best wishes and look bright and happy NOW!

..Read more

Latest Questions
Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |6464 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 17, 2025

Career
Sir igot 444 and AIQ is 131279 iam obc ncl (kerala) there is any possibilities for BDS in government college.
Ans: Nibla, A NEET score of 444 falls below the typical marks cutoff for OBC-NCL candidates seeking BDS in government dental colleges, where qualifying marks range between 520–540 for OBC students. Similarly, All India BDS closing ranks under the 15 percent AIQ for OBC rarely exceed 35,000, whereas your AIQ rank is 131,279, placing you far outside the viable admission range. Nationwide only about 3,000 government BDS seats exist, and premier institutions such as SCB Dental College (Cuttack), Government Dental College (Bangalore), and Tamil Nadu Government Dental College (Chennai) closed with AIQ ranks under 30,000 for OBC. Under Kerala’s 85 percent state quota, Government Dental College, Thiruvananthapuram admitted OBC candidates with ranks up to 51,595 in earlier years, while Kottayam and Kannur closed within similar state-rank brackets, implying state ranks must be substantially lower than your AIQ conversion would yield. Consequently, securing a BDS seat in a government college appears highly unlikely. Consider prioritising private or deemed dental colleges with lower cutoffs and participating in both AIQ and state counselling to maximise admission options. Recommendation: Focus on private or deemed dental institutions, as government quota thresholds exceed reachable marks and ranks. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

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Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |6464 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 17, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 14, 2025
Career
Which university is good among VIT, AMRITA AND SRM?
Ans: VIT Vellore maintains a 90–95% placement rate across the last three years, facilitated by 632–945 recruiters visiting annually and yielding over 3,300 super-dream (≥10 LPA) and 2,800 dream (≥6 LPA) offers in 2024, with a median package near ?9 LPA and strong tech-sector engagement from companies like Microsoft, Amazon and TCS. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Coimbatore records 90–100% placement consistency for its BTech cohorts, supported by 300+ recruiters including IBM, Wipro and Cognizant, with median salaries around ?7.75 LPA and emphasis on internships and research projects embedding industry standards early in the curriculum. SRM Chennai’s flagship Kattankulathur campus posts 85–90% placement rates over three years, hosting 980–1,313 recruiters and generating 5,500–9,000 offers annually, with average packages around ?7.2 LPA and core-engineering roles from Cognizant, Infosys and Ford. VIT leads in high-value dream offers and recruiter diversity, Amrita excels in top-end consistency and academic rigor, and SRM offers broad sectoral reach with strong core engineering streams.

Recommendation: Prioritise VIT Vellore for maximum high-value offer volume and expansive recruiter network, choose Amrita Coimbatore for nearly universal placement consistency and integrated research opportunities, and consider SRM Chennai if core engineering exposure and diverse sectoral hiring are primary goals. All the BEST for the Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

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Ramalingam

Ramalingam Kalirajan  |8931 Answers  |Ask -

Mutual Funds, Financial Planning Expert - Answered on Jun 17, 2025

Asked by Anonymous - Jun 16, 2025
Money
Hello Sir, I want to redeem a mutual fund to reduce number of fund in my portfolio. This fund is of 5% allocation of my total portfolio and has not beaten the benchmark. I want to how to reinvest this redeemed amount to another MF, should I do SIP or lumpsum. Will lumpsum investment at current market effect the return or I should invest lumpsum without timing the market. My investment horizon is for 15 years. Also will this effect the compounding
Ans: You are thinking in the right direction. Streamlining your mutual fund portfolio is a smart move. Managing fewer, better-performing funds will help you get more focused growth.

You are planning to redeem a fund that has underperformed. That shows your awareness as an investor. Let us now look at the right way to reinvest the amount. Your investment horizon is long—15 years—which is an advantage.

Let us evaluate every angle in detail.

Why It’s Okay to Exit an Underperforming Fund
You mentioned this fund has only 5% weight in your portfolio. It has not beaten its benchmark. That’s a clear red flag.

Reasons to exit:

Fund not beating benchmark for 3 years or more

Fund manager or strategy changed

Poor consistency in performance

Other funds doing better in same category

Selling such funds is wise. It makes your portfolio clean and growth-focused.

One bad performer can pull down overall return. Removing it improves portfolio efficiency.

You made a good decision.

Where to Reinvest the Redeemed Amount
After selling, your goal is to reinvest in another mutual fund. Let us plan it properly.

You asked whether to do SIP or lumpsum. Both are useful, but must be used wisely.

First, identify where this money should go.

What type of fund should you choose:

If your existing fund mix is strong, add to an existing winner

Or choose a new fund with consistent 5-year and 10-year track record

Choose only actively managed funds, not index funds

Why avoid index funds:

Index funds copy the market without intelligence

They fall when the market falls. No protection

No chance to beat benchmark

Passive nature reduces wealth-building capacity

Fund manager has no freedom to select better stocks

Actively managed funds give you:

Expert decision-making

Freedom to shift between sectors

Better downside protection

Superior long-term results in Indian market

So always prefer actively managed mutual funds via regular plans.

SIP vs Lumpsum: Which One is Better?
Let us now come to your main question.

You want to know how to reinvest the amount. SIP or lumpsum?

Your investment horizon is 15 years. This is very long. So you can take equity exposure fully.

Still, timing matters when investing lumpsum.

Let us assess both methods side by side:

When Lumpsum Makes Sense
Lumpsum means investing full amount at once. It works in these conditions:

Market is already corrected or trading low

You are not emotionally affected by short-term falls

You will stay invested for full 15 years

You have chosen a good fund with strong past record

You don’t need this money for short-term goals

Benefits of lumpsum in long-term:

Full compounding starts from day one

Money is fully exposed to market

No waiting time, no idle money

Higher returns if market performs well after entry

But don’t forget, lumpsum needs mental stability.

What if market falls after lumpsum?

You may feel anxious

You may exit early due to fear

Short-term losses can affect your patience

That’s why timing does affect short-term performance. But not long-term growth if you stay invested for 15 years.

When SIP is Better
SIP is the habit of investing every month.

Even for lumpsum amounts, you can do STP (Systematic Transfer Plan).

STP means:

Keep the lump amount in liquid fund

Transfer fixed amount every month into the equity fund

Example: Rs. 50,000 per month for 6–10 months

Why STP is useful:

Reduces risk of market timing

Avoids investing entire amount at peak

Keeps you emotionally stable

Avoids regret in case of short-term correction

Creates smoother entry into equity

Use STP when:

Market is at all-time highs

Volatility is increasing

You are not sure about market direction

You want peace of mind during investment

So, STP is a balanced way to invest lump amounts.

Will Lumpsum Affect Compounding?
This is an important question.

Let us understand compounding clearly.

Compounding depends on:

Time invested

Return generated

Amount invested

Whether you do lumpsum or SIP, the key is how long money stays invested.

Lumpsum helps compounding start early. SIP creates compounding gradually.

In long term (15 years):

Lumpsum grows faster if invested at right level

SIP grows steadily but reduces entry timing risk

Both will give good results if fund is right

So yes, lumpsum helps compounding better if done at right time.

But STP gives you that benefit with safety.

You get smoother growth and still early compounding.

Ideal Strategy for Your Case
Let us now give you a proper, full-scope recommendation.

Step-by-Step Plan:
Redeem the underperforming fund.

Park the money in a liquid mutual fund (not savings account).

Start a 6-month STP to a high-quality active mutual fund.

Choose the fund after checking its 5-year, 10-year consistency.

Avoid new index funds or ETFs.

Use regular plans through Certified Financial Planner channel.

After STP ends, monitor that new fund every year.

This plan will:

Reduce timing risk

Start compounding early

Bring emotional comfort

Keep your investing smooth

Increase overall return stability

Additional Things to Keep in Mind
Since your money is being shifted, some more factors to remember:

Mutual Fund Capital Gains Tax Rules (Updated):

Equity fund LTCG above Rs. 1.25 lakh taxed at 12.5%

STCG (below 1 year) taxed at 20%

These are recent rules. Plan redemptions smartly

Avoid frequent switches to reduce tax impact

Emotional Behaviour Risk:

Do not panic if market dips during STP

Do not stop investing after seeing short-term fall

Compounding works best when you do not interrupt

Yearly Review Required:

Check your fund’s performance yearly

Compare with peers in same category

Use this to decide future additions or redemptions

Work with a CFP to do regular health check-up of portfolio

Finally
You are thinking smart. Trimming funds and reallocating is a sign of maturity.

But always shift money with a goal and method.

Use these steps:

Avoid underperforming and index funds

Reinvest using STP into active mutual funds

Prefer regular plans with CFP guidance

Let money stay invested for full 15 years

Don't check NAV daily. Focus on yearly growth

Review fund quality yearly

Avoid timing the market too much

Stick with this method and your wealth will grow steadily.

Best Regards,
K. Ramalingam, MBA, CFP,
Chief Financial Planner,
www.holisticinvestment.in
https://www.youtube.com/@HolisticInvestment

...Read more

Nayagam P

Nayagam P P  |6464 Answers  |Ask -

Career Counsellor - Answered on Jun 17, 2025

DISCLAIMER: The content of this post by the expert is the personal view of the rediffGURU. Investment in securities market are subject to market risks. Read all the related document carefully before investing. The securities quoted are for illustration only and are not recommendatory. Users are advised to pursue the information provided by the rediffGURU only as a source of information and as a point of reference and to rely on their own judgement when making a decision. RediffGURUS is an intermediary as per India's Information Technology Act.

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